Leo J. Sullivan

This article is about the American politician from Massachusetts. For other people with that name, see Leo Sullivan.

Leo J. Sullivan
Sullivan circa 1945
Commissioner of the Boston Police Department
In office 1957–1962
Preceded by	Thomas F. Sullivan
Succeeded by	Edmund McNamara
Suffolk County Register of Deeds
In office 1946–1957
Preceded by	W. T. A. Fitzgerald
Succeeded by	Joseph D. Coughlin
Member of the Massachusetts Senate from the 4th Suffolk District
In office 1941–1947
Preceded by	John E. Kerrigan
Succeeded by	John E. Powers
Personal details
Born	December 8, 1905 South Boston
Died	February 1, 1963 (aged 57) South Boston
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Saint Anselm College

Leo J. Sullivan (December 8, 1905 – February 1, 1963) was an American government official from Boston who served as commissioner of the Boston Police Department from 1957 to 1962.

Early life

Sullivan was born on December 8, 1905, in South Boston. He attended The English High School and Saint Anselm College.

Political career

Sullivan began his political career in 1934 as an unsuccessful candidate for the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It would be the only defeat he suffered in his career. He was elected to the House in 1936 and served there from 1937 to 1941. From 1941 to 1947 he represented the 4th Suffolk District in the Massachusetts Senate. In 1946 he defeated 40-year incumbent W. T. A. Fitzgerald to become Suffolk County Register of Deeds. As register, Sullivan worked to modernize the office. This included photostating every document which came through the registry and making microfilms of all the records in the land division. Sullivan managed Foster Furcolo's campaign in Suffolk County during the 1956 gubernatorial election.

Police Commissioner

In 1957, Furcolo appointed Sullivan to the position of Boston police commissioner. During his tenure as commissioner, Sullivan broke up the special service squad, established a juvenile squad, and eliminated 101 positions from the department (which saved the city $550,000 a year). He supported consolidation of stations and opposed legislation to return the department under city control.

In 1961, CBS aired a program called "Biography of a Bookie Joint", which showed police officers entering and exiting Swartz's Key Shop, an illegal gambling parlor. After the broadcast, Governor John A. Volpe hired James D. St. Clair to prepare removal proceedings against Sullivan. After Sullivan refused to resign, Volpe brought him before the Massachusetts Governor's Council's on charges of splitting renovation and repair contracts, failing to advertise contract bids, engaging in the insurance business while serving as commissioner, and neglecting his duty by not ordering an investigation into the officers who were filmed visiting Swartz's Key Shop. Sullivan resigned on March 15, 1962, during the hearings on his removal.

Death

Sullivan died on February 1, 1963, at his home in South Boston.

See also

• Massachusetts legislature: 1937–1938, 1939, 1941–1942, 1943–1944, 1945–1946